Leadership alumni to gather in Oklahoma City

Dozens of alumni from agricultural leadership development programs around the country and the world will converge in Central Oklahoma for the annual International Leadership Conference Aug. 14-17.

Comment

By Candace KrebsContributing Writer

LA Junta Tribune - La Junta, CO

By Candace KrebsContributing Writer

Posted Aug. 9, 2013 at 2:00 PM

By Candace KrebsContributing Writer
Posted Aug. 9, 2013 at 2:00 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY — Dozens of alumni from agricultural leadership development programs around the country and the world will converge in Central Oklahoma for the annual International Leadership Conference Aug. 14-17.

It’s the 24th year in a row for the sweeping event, which includes several days of farm tours and educational programs. Participants from as far away as New York State and Manitoba, Canada, will tour Express Ranches and Braum’s Dairy in addition to learning about regional specialty crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes. They will also experience unique Oklahoma attractions including a tribal Indian dance and a visit to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Several nationally known speakers will present informative, thought provoking and inspirational messages, according to volunteer event coordinator Hope Pjesky, who is president of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program alumni group.

A top concern among leadership program applicants has always been the lack of agricultural understanding by the general public. In response, she’s invited several experts to discuss that topic.

They include Kevin Murphy, owner of Food Chain Communications in Kansas City, and Jayson Lusk, a food policy and marketing expert at Oklahoma State University and author of a new book called "The Food Police: A Well-fed Manifesto About the Politics of Your Plate."

A history buff, she also arranged for Dust Bowl survivors to share their personal stories during one of the evening sessions. “That will be a special experience,” she said. “We are hoping to have that videotaped. We’re losing these folks, and we need to document their stories.”

While international in scope, the annual conference typically maxes out at around 225 attendees; roughly 70 are registered this year. After participating twice in the past — on trips to Washington State and Arizona — Pjesky and her husband Ryan, who run cattle and raise wheat near Goltry, Okla., were hooked. “You really enjoy it and come back happier than when you went,” she said.

At least 40 different U.S. states, three provinces in Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and Scotland offer rural and agriculture leadership programs. Colorado has yet to host the international conference, while Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska have all played host at least once.

The conference is designed to offer continuing education to past graduates. “There’s such a potential there for it,” Pjesky said. It also mirrors the unique educational travel format that leadership programs are famous for.

At this year’s conference, leadership alumni will discuss ideas for how to expand and better engage the network of alumni in the future, Pjesky said. Plans are already under way for next year’s 25th annual event, which will be held in Illinois.